Homeless couple gets helping hand - and a wedding

Newlyweds Royce and Jennie Beaty take their first kiss as a married couple Tuesday inside the First United Methodist event center during the lunch outreach for the homeless in Ocala.

Jon Singley/Star-Banner

By Andy FillmoreCorrespondent

Published: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at 5:03 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at 5:03 p.m.

OCALA - Royce and Jennie Beaty’s best wedding gift was renewed hope and a marriage license that allows their family to stay together.

Facts

If you can help

First United Methodist Church, 1126 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, offers food and assistance to the needy each Tuesday from noon to 2 p.m. Donations of clothing and new or repairable bicycles are needed. To learn more, call 622-3244.

For information about the programs of Interfaith Emergency Services, call 629-8868 or visit iesmarion.org.

The couple exchanged vows Tuesday at First United Methodist Church with their children Roysjen, 5, and Jenna, 3, by their side, pledging to “continue to love each other.”

A benefactor paid for the marriage license and new friends provided an off-white dress and gold band for the bride, and cake for those gathered.

The all-important marriage license means the homeless couple now meets the requirements for being able to live together in one of the family rooms at Interfaith Emergency Services.

Royce, 39, and Jennie, 41, together 11 years, left their native Livingston, Tenn., with their children in March with the promise of a job in Gainesville. When they arrived, the job had evaporated and so did their savings, spent on motel rooms, gas and food. In search of jobs, they began to travel toward Daytona and ended up in Ocala, Royce Beaty said.

Since arriving here, Royce, a former construction worker, said he has put in “application after application” without result. He said he recently cut a large tree down with an axe in exchange for $10 to buy gas for their 1996 GMC truck.

Jennie, a bookkeeper, has been working five hours a week doing clerical work at Henry’s Garage.

“We stayed out in the forest, but someone stole our tent, so we stayed in the truck. We stayed for about a month and a half with a man we met at a church. We heard about Interfaith, but they wouldn’t let Royce stay in the room unless we were legally married,” she said.

Karla Grimsley, CEO of Interfaith Emergency Services, said the agency’s policy states that couples must be married to live in one of the family apartments.

“We have a total of 32 beds, including a dorm for single women and children, and also four rooms for husbands and wives with children. There are community kitchens,” Grimsley said.

“Any given time, about half of our residents are children around 10 and younger. It’s not the stereotype ‘hobo’ anymore. We get single moms and young families. Three or four years ago, these people would have never thought they’d be homeless,” she said.

“The rooms are closed Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and residents are expected to search for jobs or do volunteer work until they have full-time work. We help families with children connect with Work Force to get daycare vouchers while they are looking for work. Our entire mission is to help families get back on their feet,” Grimsley explained.

Sandi Curtis with Interfaith said a learning center adjacent to the apartments has computers for residents to use for job searches and applying for food stamps.

Jennie Beaty said it has been a difficult journey for her family.

“We have Medicaid and food stamps, or we wouldn’t have lasted. We even collected cans for gas,” she said.

“I stood out near Wal-Mart with a sign to get gas money,” Royce Beaty said.

Jennie said she had done the same and that motorists yelled at her to get a job.

“I said back, ‘I’m trying,’” she said.

She said if she and her husband find work, Roysjen will enter school this year and Jenna will be eligible for a daycare program.

Delphine Herbert learned of the family’s plight when the Beatys visited an every Tuesday community outreach at First United Methodist Church. She enlisted the help of the Rev. Jim Kuse, a retired Methodist minister and church member who has volunteered with the outreach since it began three years ago. Kuse also is president of the Interfaith Emergency Services board of directors.

“At the First United Methodist Church Tuesday outreach, we help with various needs including obtaining an identification card. The homeless cannot do much without an ID. We provide food and clothing, and we have a bicycle repair and giveaway program focused on providing transportation for people with jobs. Last time we gave out five bikes,” Kuse said.

Nancy Francis, with the church, said the Mojo Grill, Danzano’s restaurant and Aunt Fannies restaurant supply food for the weekly outreach.

“The church outreach started with 12 people attending, and now we get about 200 or more,” Kuse said. “There is a homeless network and people hear about the church outreach through word of mouth. In my experience, about a third of the homeless have a physical or mental disability, a third can function with encouragement and guidance, and a third are homeless due to the recession. Maybe one in 10 is a scammer.”

Kuse said he has seen many homeless people who “fell through the cracks” of local help agencies.

On Wednesday at Interfaith, Royce and Jennie Beaty prepared for their day while Roysjen and Jenna laughed and played with toys.

“We were together with the kids here at the room -- that was our honeymoon,” Jennie said with a smile.

<p>OCALA - Royce and Jennie Beaty's best wedding gift was renewed hope and a marriage license that allows their family to stay together.</p><p>The couple exchanged vows Tuesday at First United Methodist Church with their children Roysjen, 5, and Jenna, 3, by their side, pledging to “continue to love each other.”</p><p>A benefactor paid for the marriage license and new friends provided an off-white dress and gold band for the bride, and cake for those gathered.</p><p>The all-important marriage license means the homeless couple now meets the requirements for being able to live together in one of the family rooms at Interfaith Emergency Services. </p><p>Royce, 39, and Jennie, 41, together 11 years, left their native Livingston, Tenn., with their children in March with the promise of a job in Gainesville. When they arrived, the job had evaporated and so did their savings, spent on motel rooms, gas and food. In search of jobs, they began to travel toward Daytona and ended up in Ocala, Royce Beaty said.</p><p>Since arriving here, Royce, a former construction worker, said he has put in “application after application” without result. He said he recently cut a large tree down with an axe in exchange for $10 to buy gas for their 1996 GMC truck.</p><p>Jennie, a bookkeeper, has been working five hours a week doing clerical work at Henry's Garage.</p><p>“We stayed out in the forest, but someone stole our tent, so we stayed in the truck. We stayed for about a month and a half with a man we met at a church. We heard about Interfaith, but they wouldn't let Royce stay in the room unless we were legally married,” she said.</p><p>Karla Grimsley, CEO of Interfaith Emergency Services, said the agency's policy states that couples must be married to live in one of the family apartments.</p><p>“We have a total of 32 beds, including a dorm for single women and children, and also four rooms for husbands and wives with children. There are community kitchens,” Grimsley said.</p><p>“Any given time, about half of our residents are children around 10 and younger. It's not the stereotype 'hobo' anymore. We get single moms and young families. Three or four years ago, these people would have never thought they'd be homeless,” she said.</p><p>“The rooms are closed Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and residents are expected to search for jobs or do volunteer work until they have full-time work. We help families with children connect with Work Force to get daycare vouchers while they are looking for work. Our entire mission is to help families get back on their feet,” Grimsley explained.</p><p>Sandi Curtis with Interfaith said a learning center adjacent to the apartments has computers for residents to use for job searches and applying for food stamps.</p><p>Jennie Beaty said it has been a difficult journey for her family. </p><p>“We have Medicaid and food stamps, or we wouldn't have lasted. We even collected cans for gas,” she said.</p><p>“I stood out near Wal-Mart with a sign to get gas money,” Royce Beaty said.</p><p>Jennie said she had done the same and that motorists yelled at her to get a job.</p><p>“I said back, 'I'm trying,'” she said.</p><p>She said if she and her husband find work, Roysjen will enter school this year and Jenna will be eligible for a daycare program. </p><p>Delphine Herbert learned of the family's plight when the Beatys visited an every Tuesday community outreach at First United Methodist Church. She enlisted the help of the Rev. Jim Kuse, a retired Methodist minister and church member who has volunteered with the outreach since it began three years ago. Kuse also is president of the Interfaith Emergency Services board of directors.</p><p>“At the First United Methodist Church Tuesday outreach, we help with various needs including obtaining an identification card. The homeless cannot do much without an ID. We provide food and clothing, and we have a bicycle repair and giveaway program focused on providing transportation for people with jobs. Last time we gave out five bikes,” Kuse said.</p><p>Nancy Francis, with the church, said the Mojo Grill, Danzano's restaurant and Aunt Fannies restaurant supply food for the weekly outreach.</p><p>“The church outreach started with 12 people attending, and now we get about 200 or more,” Kuse said. “There is a homeless network and people hear about the church outreach through word of mouth. In my experience, about a third of the homeless have a physical or mental disability, a third can function with encouragement and guidance, and a third are homeless due to the recession. Maybe one in 10 is a scammer.”</p><p>Kuse said he has seen many homeless people who “fell through the cracks” of local help agencies.</p><p>On Wednesday at Interfaith, Royce and Jennie Beaty prepared for their day while Roysjen and Jenna laughed and played with toys.</p><p>“We were together with the kids here at the room -- that was our honeymoon,” Jennie said with a smile.</p>